Kashiwa Reysol – DF Hiroki Sakai moved to Germany. Injuries are just two reserve GKs.
Nagoya Grampus – FW Tamada out for two months after operation. MFs Isomura and Namakura both out for at least another two months each. GK Narazaki had a minor operation on the knee but the team hope he will be back for this game.

Six wins for Grampus, four for Reysol and four draws over the last decade. The last win for Grampus was away in 2009.

While Grampus have shown inconsistency recently, Kashiwa Reysol (4th P16 W8 D3 L5 GD +7 Pts. 27) are on a winning streak (apart from a recent draw against Kashima Antlers) that has brought them from the basement to the big boys. Just three points off the top after a dire start must have the other teams around them concerned! Last weekend they put six past Gamba Osaka – from just ten goal attempts, efficient indeed!
Nagoya Grampus (7th P16 W7 D4 L5 GD +1 Pts. 25) have drawn their last two games, and lost to Cerezo Osaka recently and, although only two points behind Reysol woulld appear to be under pressure to perform. They will lose Nagai to the LOndon Olympics after this weekend – he has scored freely in the last month – and he will be a big loss. They need three points here to stop the rot that might set in.
Expect a DRAW!


FC Tokyo – MF Hanyu out for at least a month, MF Otake out for the season, DF Ota out for at least another month, DF Hiramatsu expecting long time off with Achilles injury. MF Kajiyama out until early August. MF Ishikawa very doubtful.

Gamba Osaka – FW Leandro is eligible to start. MF Sasaki back in training. FW Kawanishi back in easy training after broken leg. DFs Kaji and Eduardo still missing. GK Kimura out with a broken leg. Gamba Osaka – DF Nakazawa broke his leg in training July 4th, will be out for at least 3 months.

It’s three years since Tokyo got a win over Gamba but it’s pretty equal over a decade with six wins each and four draws.
Match Preview
One win and one draw (and three losses) for each team in their last five games. Both teams are hit by injuries, but Gamba may have the edge – or at least the adrenalin flowing – with the return of Leandro to their ranks… FC Tokyo (8th P16 W8 D1 L7 GD 0 Pts. 25) are just seven points off the top, but, on the other hand, also seven points away from 15th spot. They have scored seven goals less than their much lower rivals, with just 18 in their 16 games and are struggling to keep in touch with the top three place they should really be aiming for.
Gamba Osaka (16th P16 W3 D4 L9 GD -11 Pts. 13) probably started the season aiming for a top three spot, also, but, for now, would be happy with pulling away from the relegation places. Many changes, both forced, and unforced, from the top (Akira Nishino, manager, resigned) to the team have seem them struggle in the rebuilding process. A win today would go a long way to renewing confidence. A late goal conceded would not be unexpected, but has to stop! Expect a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!


Kashima Antlers – DF Iwamasa is suspended.
Omiya Ardija – MF Hashimoto has Labyrynthitis – our for a month or so.

Kashima Antlers are 10 games to 1 in wins in this fixture, with four draws since 2005. Omiya’s single win came in 2009 at home.


Two draws and a loss (to Grampus) is the recent record for Kashima Antlers (13th – P16 W5 D4 L7 GD +2 Pts. 19) who had a terrible start, then saw something of a revival that had hopes rising, before settling into the lower mid-table at mid-season. Their fans will demand more and they have the players for the high expectations, they just need to become a team again.
Omiya Ardija (14th P16 W5 D4 L7 GD -12 Pts. 19) have the same record (apart from goal difference) as their opponents today, who have won and drawn their last two games aftter being taken over by a new coach. Perhaps the new coach effect will have dissipated by today but, if he has them playing as the sum of their parts, they may give Antlers a hard time, but there is a lot of work to do. EXPECT a DRAW today!


Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Iwashita and MF Kobayashi were short-term injury victims, but both in training again.
Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Jeci and Komiyama are back in training but not match fit. MF Noborizato out until August.

Seven wins for S-Pulse, three for Frontale and four draws since 2005, all in J1.

Shimizu S-Pulse (10th – P16 W7 D3 L6 GD +2 Pts. 24) are in a slump, after being in a position to take over top spot around a month ago, they now sit in 10th, all be it within three points of equal 3rd place. Conceding only 14 goals all season is impressive, but scoring only 16 negates the excellent defending. Only one goal in the last five games needs to be looked at. A goal for S-Pulse will be theior 100th J1 goal in their 20th Anniversary week.
Kawasaki Frontale (6th – P16 W8 D2 L6 GD 0 Pts. 26) lost at home to Vissel last time out and before that drew 0-0 with Marinos, so something of a mini-slump for them, also. They have scored 22 goals, but conceded the same and need to do better at both ends of the table. EXPECT a 20th ANNIVERSARY win (and their J.League 1000th goal) for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!


Urawa Reds – MF Naoki Yamada out for the season. DF Spiranovic is said to be leaving the club, certainly no longer in the manager’s plans. FWs Escudero and Popo still doubtful.
Sagan Tosu – DF Kitani out until September. MF Takahashi approaching fitness, but not for this game.

These teams have only met once before, in the Nabisco Cup this year, when Sagan Tosu won. This will be the first J.League meeting between the teams.

Urawa Reds (5th – P16 W7 D6 L3 GD +5 Pts. 27) have won just one of their last four games – a fortunate win over Gamba Osaka – registering draws against Tokyo, Cerezo and Vegalta in that time. Even with that faltering record they remain just five points off top spot and will want to take advantage of the teams above them dropping points. They have scored just 20 goals all season and the common belief is that, if they had a strong striker they would be clear at the top by now!
Sagan Tosu (9th – P16 W6 D6 L4 GD +4 Pts. 24) are just three points back from Reds but the cracks are starting to show in their so far impressive J1 debut campaign. A win here would boost their confidence no end and give them the boost that they need to allow them to think that they can keep it up. A loss would perhaps begin their slide into the lower reaches. Two wins in five in recent games, those wins being against Consadole and Gamba. EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!


Consadole Sapporo – DF Jade North is suspended. MF Takagi is out for two months. FW Maeda out until at least August.
Albirex Niigata – DF JS Kim out for two months with a knee injury. MF Nakamura out for three months with bone fracture in foot. MF Uchida out for the season.

Four wins for Albirex, two for Consadole and a draw in seven meetings. Four meetings were in J2 in 2003. The last three meetings, this year in the Nabisco Cup and two in J1 in 2008 were all won by Albirex.

Just one win all season so far for Consadole Sapporo (18th – P16 W1 D1 L14 GD -27 Pts. 4), this must be their biggest chance to get another win and to have any hope of a comeback – the team closest to them! Having scored just 10 goals so far, and conceded 37, though, perhaps a draw is as good as it will get for the bottom team?
Albirex Niigata (17th – P16 W3 D4 L9 GD -12 Pts. 13) drew last time out and managed a win against S-Pulse in new coach Yanagishita’s first game in charge – but lost to Vissel Kobe in between those bright spots. They will see this as a big chance to add another three points and out the pressure on Gamba Osaka. But Sapporo might pull out all the stops – expect a DRAW!